AfriGeneas Free Persons of Color Forum

Suggestions; Morgan and Hill Family

I need suggestions. I am researching John Morgan; born circa 1835 in Tennessee (wife Mary J. maiden name possibly Hill born circa 1837 in Tennessee). I've been able to document the family from 1860 to the present. I will request a marriage record for John and Mary to verify the Hill connection.

Verified census data: The Morgan and Hill families were located in Smith, Overton, and Jackson counties--Overton and Jackson were once apart of Smith.

1. I have located a mulatto named John Morgan age 15 in Smith County, Tenn. living with the Richard Johnson family in 1850. (the age does match to my John Morgan)

2. I have located a free person of color on the 1840 Smith County census--John Morgan, head of household along with 1 male (0-10); 1 male (10-24); 2 females (10-24); and 1 female (36-55). I've also located a John Morgan age 50 on the 1860 Smith County census. I have not been able to locate the senior John in 1850.

I am new to Tennessee research--does anyone have any suggestions as to what steps I should take? Could these two John's be related? In my experience researching free blacks in Illinois and Georgia--the certificates and register of freedom are mixed in with other court records (no separate listing of free blacks).

I apologize for the long message--right now my genealogical fuel cells are running low.